Golf practice machine

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for use by a golf player in practicing golf club strokes in a confined area, and which visually indicates the driving force in terms of distances, so that the apparatus can be used as a game; the device including a hollow platform having a slot through which a vertical shaft protrudes upwardly and having a golf-ball shaped knob on its upper exposed end for being struck by a golf club which, when struck, causes the vertical shaft to pivot forwardly about a horizontal, transverse shaft which at the same time is forwardly slided in supporting slots against the action of a return spring, the horizontal shaft having a plate attached thereto with electric contacts thereupon which during travel progressively engage with corresponding stationary sets of contacts so to progressively close different circuits each having a different indicator lamp designating a particular driving distance.

Unite States 'atent [191 Bertucci 1 GOLF PRACTICE MACHINE 211 Appl. No.:458,544

[52] US. Cl. 273/185 D, 273/167 J, 273/195 R Pl'lllllll'I:.\'amin0rGeorge J. Marlo Attorney, Agent, or FirmRichard L. Miller[451 Mar. 11, 1975 [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for use by a golf playerin practicing golf club strokes in-a confined area, and which visuallyindicates the driving force in terms of distances, so that the apparatuscan be used as a game; the device including a hollow platform having aslot through which a vertical shaft protrudes upwardly and having agolfball shaped knob on its upper exposed end for being struck by a golfclub which, when struck, causes the vertical shaft to pivot forwardlyabout a horizontal, transverse shaft which at the same time is forwardlyslided in supporting slots against the action of a return spring, thehorizontal shaft having a plate attached thereto with electric contactsthereupon which during travel progressively engage with correspondingstationary sets of contacts so to progressively close different circuitseach having a different indicator lamp designating a particular drivingdistance.

3 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures 1 GOLF PRACTICE MACHINE This inventionrelates generally to golf playing apparatus which is a new apparatusused for golf practicing for new players young or old, to acquire thefeel of a golf club so as to learn the proper swing, to hit the golfball the right way and to build up strength for correct form in theswing.

A principle object of the present invention is to provide an apparatusfor allowing a golf player to practice his driving strokes within aconfined area such as indoors, and which visually informs the player ofthe quality of his stroke.

Another object is to provide an apparatus which can be used either as apractice device for individual players, or which can be used as a gamefor a player alone or competitively between several players.

Still another object is to provide an apparatus which is readilyportable, and which when not in use, requires a minimum storage space.

Other objects are to provide a golf playing apparatus which is simple indesign, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to useand efficient in operation.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the descriptionproceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this inventionmay be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings,attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings areillustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specificconstruction illustrated and described within the scope of the appendedclaims.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention shown in use.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the operative unit thereof.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a spring shock absorbing mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view on line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a scoring unit of the invention.

FIG. 8 is an electric circuit of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a club head used with the presentinvention.

FIG. 10 is a front elevation view thereof.

Referring now to the drawing in detail the reference numeral 10represents a golf practice driving range according to the presentinvention wherein there is a base 11 made of any suitable structure suchas wood, and which has a mat 12 secured upon its top wall 13, the mathaving green colored fibers 14 so to resemble grass, and upon which aplayer 15 can stand while swinging golf club 16.

The base 11 includes an operative unit 17 contained in hollow housing18. A slot 19 on an upper side of housing 18, allows horizontal travelof a shaft 20 protruding upwardly through the slot, the upper end of theshaft having a golf-ball shaped ball member 21 rigidly secured thereuponand which is intended to be struck by the golf club 16. 7

The lower end of shaft 20 is formed into a loop 22 having centralopening 23 through which a cross shaft 24 extends; the shaft beingsupported near each end in horizontal slots 25 of side walls 26 of thehousing 18.

The loop 22 is positioned along the cross shaft 24 so that the shaft 20is located midway between side walls 26. Opening 23-is oversizedrespective to the diameter of cross shaft 24 so the ball 21 can bepivoted into any direction. In order to normally maintain the shaft 20vertically upright.- One end of an elastic cord 27 is connected aroundshaft 20, and the other end of cord 27 is passed around rotatable pulley28 supported on cross shaft 29, and the terminal end of cord 27 isattached to hook 30 secured to eye screw 31 anchored in stationary block32 inside the housing. To prevent the shaft 20 to droop sidewardly, theloop 22 is positioned between washers 33, that are normally urged towardthe loop by compression coil springs 34 fitted around cross shaft24.-The other ends of springs 34 bear against metal washer 35 positionedadjacent rubber washer 36 placed against inner side of the side wall 26.Thus the ball 21 is in position for being struck by the head 37 of thegolf club 16,.as shown in FIG. 3.

The golf club head 37 includes a forwardly projecting pad 38 forengaging the ball 21.

When the club head 37 is moved in direction shown by arrow 39, in FIG.3, the struck ball causes the shaft 20 to pivot forwardly about thecross-shaft but the force of the club blow also causes the cross shaftto slide in a forwardly direction along slots 25, against the force ofreturn elastic cord 27. The amount of the force by the club blow isvisually indicated at a separate scoring unit 40 for being seen by theplayer, as is accomplished by an electro mechanical structure 41.

The structure 41 includes a plate 42 of insulation material slidable intracks 43 secured to one of the side walls 26. The plate 42 is attachedto the cross shaft by means of the cross shaft passing through atransverse opening 44 in the plate. A pair of electric contacts 45 and46 are mounted on the plate 42, the contacts being electricallyengagable with rows of contacts 47 and 48 respectively that arestationarily mounted on the housing sidewall.

Each pair of contacts 47 and 48 are in series circuit with one of thelamps 49 located inside the scoring unit 40. A transluscent window 50 isin front of each lamp 49, each window being of a different color andeach window having scoring numbers 51 imprinted thereupon, as shown inFIG. 7.

Additionaly, the scoring device indicates a left foul" and right foul incase the ball 21 is struck toward either side instead of being struckstraight ahead. This is accomplished by the ball 21 striking either ofthe switch plates 52 located upon each side wall 26, thus momentarilyclosing a switch 53 placed under the plate 52, and thus closing anelectric circuit to a specific one of the lamps on the scoring unitwhich indicates a foul.

When the unit is placed in front of the player as shown in FIG. 1, theplayer sees which color of light momentarily goes on so to know hisscore. The scoring unit 40 is connected electrically to the operatingunit 17 by extension cord 54 and plug block 55 engaging socket block 56.An extension cord 57 with plug 58 is attachable to an electric supply.

After a play, the cord 27 returns the shaft 20 into upright position.The cross shaft 24 and plates 42 are returned back to starting positionby a tension spring 59 on each side of the housing 18, each spring atone end being attached to the cross shaft and the spring other end beingattached to eye screw 60 anchored in the housing.

A shock absorbing mechanism 61 is provided so to absorb the force of theball 21 as the ball pivots around the cross shaft 24 when struck by theclub. Mechanism 61 comprises a set of transverse tension coils springs62 wrapped inside a rubber sleeve 63; the spring ends being secured tothe side wall 26.

Another transverse tension coil spring 64, secured at its ends tosidewalls 26, serves to stop the pivotal return travel of the shaft 20.A dimple 65 on the top wall is provided to receive the ball 21 when thereturn motion is stopped.

Thus a golf playing apparatus is provided.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown anddescribed and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will beunderstood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in theforms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can bemade by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a golf Practice Driving Range the combination of a base upon whicha golf player can stand, an operative unit in said base, including ahousing having a slot on its top side, an upstanding shaft protrudingupwardly through said slot, a ball secured on an upper end of said shaftfor being struck by a golf club held by said player and means forindicating a quality of a driving force by said player to said ball,said means comprising a scoring unit separately located from said base,and an electric circuit including switch means in said operative unitactivated by movement of said ball, and lamp indicating means in saidscoring unit, said ball shaft being pivotable about a cross shaftslidable in slots of sidewalls of a housing of said operative units,said cross shaft carrying electricalcontacts engagable with sets ofstationary contacts of said housing, said contacts sets being in circuitwith different ones of a set of differently identified lamps of saidscoring units.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein spring return meansare connected to said shaft and cross shaft.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein switch means on saidside walls are in circuit with left foul" and right foul indicatingmeans.

1. In a golf Practice Driving Range the combination of a base upon whicha golf player can stand, an operative unit in said base, including ahousing having a slot on its top side, an upstanding shaft protrudingupwardly through said slot, a ball secured on an upper end of said shaftfor being struck by a golf club held by said player and means forindicating a quality of a driving force by said player to said ball,said means comprising a scoring unit separately located from said base,and an electric circuit including switch means in said operative unitactivated by movement of said ball, and lamp indicating means in saidscoring unit, said ball shaft being pivotable about a cross shaftslidable in slots of sidewalls of a housing of said operative units,said cross shaft carrying electrical contacts engagable with sets ofstationary contacts of said housing, said contacts sets being in circuitwith different ones of a set of differently identified lamps of saidscoring units.
 1. In a golf Practice Driving Range the combination of abase upon which a golf player can stand, an operative unit in said base,including a housing having a slot on its top side, an upstanding shaftprotruding upwardly through said slot, a ball secured on an upper end ofsaid shaft for being struck by a golf club held by said player and meansfor indicating a quality of a driving force by said player to said ball,said means comprising a scoring unit separately located from said base,and an electric circuit including switch means in said operative unitactivated by movement of said ball, and lamp indicating means in saidscoring unit, said ball shaft being pivotable about a cross shaftslidable in slots of sidewalls of a housing of said operative units,said cross shaft carrying electrical contacts engagable with sets ofstationary contacts of said housing, said contacts sets being in circuitwith different ones of a set of differently identified lamps of saidscoring units.
 2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein springreturn means are connected to said shaft and cross shaft.